Apparatus for distributing fertilizer



Jan. 7, 1930. J. L. HATCH APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING FERTILIZER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 19. 1928 snow/nice Jan; 7, 1930. HATCH 1,742,350

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING FERTILIZER Filed June 19, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 2 JL-Jlqiqh Jan. 7, 1930. J, HATCH I APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING FERTILIZER Filed June 19, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 D STATE i deposited in thefurrow at therear i Patentedqlanffl 1930 i it JOHN LAFAYETTE 1 HATCH, for BELLE ILLE,

ROBERT JACKSON BAILEY,

or BELLEAVEZIALE, AR ANsAs APPARATUS For; nrs'rnrnuriiveFER ILIZER element filed me 19 1 This iiiyention relatesto' an apparatus for adistributmg fertilizer, and it is an object of i the invention to provide a device of this kind Whichis adapted to be attached to a Walking cultivator or \kindred agricultural 11111316 ment y 1 Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of, this kind,

I @ivhereby thefldesired fertilizer can beeither depOsited Upon thesoilin advance of a plow to permit the fertilizer and soilbeingmi-Xed in a singleoperation, or said "fertilizer can be of a plow. An' additional objectof the invention is to assembled in a manner whereby the discharge from the apparatus may be regulated in acprovide an apparatus of this kindv which is readilyadjustableIto permit the apparatus to ,befused to fertilize growing plants beingeultivatedj n l l, The invel'itionconsists in the detailsof construction andfin the combinationand arj rangement of the several parts of my 1mproiedj apparatusfor distrlbntnig fertilizer wherebycertainimpbrtantadvantagesare attained and the device rendered simpler, less 1 expensive andotherwise more convenient and advantageousfor use, as Will be hereinafter liloreffully set forth.

i I The novel features of my invention will hereinafter bedefinitely claimed. 1 i

\In order that myinvention may be the betterunderstood, I will new proceed to describe thesame with reference to the accompanying.

drawings, wherein Figure l is a View in I a fertilizer distributorconstructedin accordancevvith an embodiment of my invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View partlyiinl vertical sectionfand partly in elevationillustrating one of the'hoppers and e the mechanism directly associated therewith; l Figurefi IS a sectionalrvlew takensubstan if i tially on the line 3 3of Figure 2 if Figured is a view similar to? Figure Qwvith f he panlocked in inoperativeposition;

provide a device of this kind constructed and eojrdance with the desired'amount' of fer I A still n ther object of the-invention istjo' top plan illustrating 1928. serial No. 28( 3,695,

-OFFICE ammnsns, ASSIGNOR or own-HALF 'ro' i is a view partly in. section and posed transversely to the direction of travel of the cultivator and underlie the draft tongue 1 T of the culti vator and held thereto by the straps 2 disposed-over the, tongue T with their extremities anchored. as at 3; to'the upper faces of thebeams atopposite sides of the tongue T.

The beams l are preferably; ositioiied the rearof the archofthe axle This axle A: is comprised in ,thefcultivator proper and has mounted on its opposite end portions the ground engaging wheels of the desired diameter." a a a i The beams 1 may be collectively considered as a supportingframeiand said frame ateach 7 1 end portionthereof is provided with the sub-f stantially U-shaped upstanding Lmembers M, the base portion of each of; which having direct contact with thejupper face of a beam 1 and held thereto by the clamps C; By looseningjthe clamps the m ell'lbers 801 adjusted lengthwiseof thebeams 1 toal point 'best' preferred. a

The upstanding-arms provide asupport for a hopper H, the for- [Ward arms 5having theirupper end portions 5 the; ambas' M pivotally connected; as at i 6, with they side Walls of the hopper H While the upper porhich is directeda clamping member 8 carried-by the adjacentside wall of the hopper.

By thisparticular mounting ofthe hopper H the same is capableof limitedyertical swing ing adj ustment in order to arrange the hopper H on a desiredangle. The hopper- H of a {conventional type having its bottom open.

tions of the rear arms 5 are each provided with a longitudinally disposed slot 7 through The front and-rear wallsofthe hopper H i are disposed on inward and: downward irrclines toward said open bottom of the hop- ,per while the lower portions of the side walls are inwardly inclinedin order to assure effective discharge of the fertilizer material within the hopper H through the open bottom thereof. The inclined lower portions 9 of the side walls of the hopper in the present instance comprise inserts and the lower portions of the side walls proper comprise beams 10 which extend forceiand aft of the lower portion of the hopper. V The rear arms are each provided with a lower longitudinally disposed slot 11 through which is disposed a clamping medium 12 carried by the adjacent beam to further maintain the hopper H in desired adjusted position.

I The open bottom of the hopper H is defined by a discharge spout 14 of desired length and maintained in applied orworking position; through the instrumentality of the flanges 15 overlying'the lower portions of the inner walls of thehopper H. Underlying the open bottom of each of the hoppers H is a pan P to the outer longitudinal flange '16 22, is also disposed through the overlying extremities'of the side arms 23 of a forwardly directed, frame Thisjrame F issubstantially, U-sliaped in form with the side members or arms 23 converging toward the outer intermediate portion 24 thereof;

j The central part of the portion 24 is formed topro'vide a forwardly directed arm 25'with which is pivotallyengaged, as at 26, thelower end portion of a rigid link 27; The upper portion ofthis link 27 is'pivotally connected,

as at 28, to a bracket 29 depending a desired point from the front wall 30 of thehopper H.

Therear portion of the stripj18 has pivotalconnectedithereto, as'at 31, aninwardly directed foot member 32 carriedby the lower portion of a rigid link33, The upper "end portion of this link 33 is pivotally connected,

as at 34, with a bracket 35 secured to the outer side'fface-"36 of the hopper HQ .It is to be noted thatthe brackets 29 ,and35- are connectedto the walls30 and 36 respectively of U "co the hopper H in a manner wherebythe same may be adjusted toward or fronij the pan P for a purpose-to be hereinafter referred to.

As herein disclosed, this adjustment is 'effected by having the holding bolts 37 directed through longltudinally disposed slots 38' in the'brackets 29 and 35.

Depending from the forwardend portions of the beams 10 are the bearing members 39 i which rotatably supportiashaft 40." This shaft 40' substantially midway of the beams 10 has fixed thereto a toothed wheel 41 which,

upon forward rotation of the shaft 40, en gages a wear plate 42 secured to the inner or rear face of the intermediate portion 24 of the frame F resulting in an effective vibration of the pan P to cause the fertilizing material deposited upon the pan P from the hopper H to pass rearwardly thereof for discharge through the hose 43. The rear portion of the pan P is reduced in width, as at 44, to provide a restricted discharge 45 at the rear lower end of the pan? for delivery uponthe apron 46 carried by the central portion of a saddle 4T interposed between and secured to the rear end portions of the beams 10. The receiving end portion of the hose 43 is suitably affixed to this apron 46 so that the material received upon the apron 46 will be carried off through the hose 43. The hose 43 1nay be arranged so as to discharge the fertilizer either in advance of the plow or in the furrow to the rear of the plow. For ordinary uses in distributing fertilizer prior to planting the seed the fertilizer is preferably discharged in the furrow in the rear ofthe plow or cultivator blade. The delivery end portion of the hose 43 may be supported in any desired manner, as by the medium of a bracket arm 48. Each of these brackets 48, or hose holder as it may be termed, can be readilyattached to either the front or rear hook of a cultivator.

' An end portion of each of the shafts 40 has loosely mounted thereon a sprocket wheel 49. This sprocket wheel 49 is provided with V a clutching hub 50 coacting with an outstanding pin 51 carried by the shaft 40. The clutching hub 50 and pin 51 are normally maintained in clutching engagement by the spring 52 encircling the shaft 40 outwardly-of the wheel 49 and interposed between said wheel 49 and a retaining pin 53. The wheel 49 is in driven connection through the sprocket chain 54 with a sprocket 55 clamped to the hub portion of the adjacent ground engaging wheel W. As the wheels TV are traveling forwardly, the shaft 40 will be properly rotated but, upon reverse rotation of the wheels, the sprocket wheel 49 will rotate freely upon the shaft 40 against the tension of the spring 52. I

To further assure the requisite vibration of the pan P, the bolt 22 hereinbefore referred to has secured to its central portion the lower end portion of a flat spring 56, the opposite or upper end portion of which being anchored to the front wall 30 of-the hopper H.

As contact of a tooth of the wheel 40 engages the plate 42, the pan P will be moved in a forwarddirection and, as this plate 42 slips or passes over such tooth, the spring 56 will be under sufficient tension to quickly force the pan P in the opposite direction for contact with a succeeding tooth. By adjusting the bracket 29 toward or from the bottom of the hopper H, the extent of vibration of the pan P maybe regulated." If the bracket 29 is moved upwardly, the teeth of the wheel il will pass the plate 42 and the extent ofvibra tion will he correspondinglyreduced. Upon tionwill be correspondingly increased. 1 In orderto'render a pan P noperative or tion by the wheel 41, I pivotally connect ,as at 10 a level-58. This pivotal connection 57 is at a desired distance intermediate the ends of y the lever 58 so that when the lower portion of said lever 58 is swung upwardly and rear- Wardlythe opposite end portion will have contactwith the link 33 and swing the same forwardly a distance tolmove the plate 42 out of the way of the wheel 41. y

To hold the pan P against undue lateral movement during its vibratory action, I provide the beams 10 at the forward portion of f the pan withthe inwardly disposed arms 59 terminating in close proximity to the panand thereby preventing the pan from having any i undue lateral movement. Coacting with this lever 58 is a guard strip 60 ailixed, as at 61, to a side arm 50f an adjacent member M.

' The arms 59 also serveas stops for limiting the rearward or returnmovement of the pan P,thee xtremities of the arms 23 coming into Mabrupt stop wherebyis facilitated the req-' uisite rearward travel of the material on the and operated, and it will also be obvious that the principles and spirit thereof and for this iting myself to the precise arrangement and formationof the several parts'hereinshown in carrying out myinvention in praot ice'ex cept as hereinafter claimed.

[a strip secured to and extending along said side wall, a linkpivotally connected wit-h the hopper and withan end portionof thestrip, an outwardly disposed frame carried by the pan at the endfportionthereofremote from nected with the outerportionof the frame and the hopper, both of the links providing means loweringthe bracket 29 the extent of vibrato maintain-the samein aposition freeof ac:

= 57, to the rear portion of each of the beams discharges saidpanlinchding side wall, a

contact with said arms 59, thus assuring an 1 a a From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that an apparatus for distributing fertilizer constructed in accord ance withmy invention isparticularly well adapted for useby reason of the convenience "and facility withwhich it may be assembled myinventionis susceptible of some change filIldlIlOdlfiCittlGIl wlthout departing from reason I do not wish to be understood as lim izer distributing apparatus com ,the end portion ofthe strip with which the,

link is engaged, asecondlink pivotally confor successively imparting movement to the pan n Ol18*(l1 r6Ct10I l, aIlCl automat cmeans for 'imparting intermittent movement to the pan 1n the opposite dll'ectlOrL H 9 3 y 2. A fertilizer distributing-"apparatuscomprising, in combination,ahoppenhavin a discharge opening, a pan underlying the, isoharge opening and upon whichthe hopper strip secured to and extending'alongsaid side wall, a link pivotallyconnected with the hopper and withan end portion o ffthe strip,,an

outwardly disposed frame carried by the pan at the end portion thereof remote from the end portion of the strip with whi h the link is engaged, a-second link pivotallyconnected a with the outer portion ofthe frame and the hopper,'both of the links providing means to support thepan for vibratory movement, me-

chanical means coacting with the frame for and end of the pan, said ortion adjacent'the oppositesides of thepan' eingprovidedwith forwardly disposed arms, and means for connecting an end portion of the frame to said ar s. 1

g, 3. "A fertilizerdistributing apparatus comprising, in combination, a hopper having a discharge opening, a pan underlyingithe dis-l charge opening and. upon which thehopper discharges, said pan includinga side wall; a strip secured to and extendingalongsaidside wall, a link pivotally connected with thehopper'and with anend portion of the strip, an

outwardly disposed frame carried the pan at*the end portion thereof remote from the end portion {of the strip with which thelink: is engaged,a second link pivotally connected;

with the outer portion of theframe and the hopper, both of the links providing meansflto support the pan for vibratory movement, me:

ehanical means coacting with the frame for successively imparting movementto thepan in one direction, automatic means for imparting intermittent movement to the pan in the opposite directiomand arms positioned at opposite sides of the pan to prevent said pan coactingwith the frame to limit the inter mittent movement thereofby the automatic means.

having undue lateral movement, said arms a 4. Afertilizer distributing apparatus comprising, in combination, a hopper havinga discharge opening, a panunderlying thedis-fi charge opening and upon whichthe hopper discharges, said pan including a sidewall, a strip secured to and extending along said sidewall, a link pivotally connected with the hopper and with an end portion ofthe stripy -i gun. i. I

1 an outwardly disposed frame carried by the pan at; the endportion thereof remote from I the end portion of: the strip, with which the .linkisengag'ed, a second link pivotally con- 1 ,nected with the outer portion of the frame and the hopper, bothi-of the links providing means to supportthe pan }for vibratory movement, mechanical meanscoacting with the a frame for successively imparting movement to the an in onedirection, and automatic means or imparting intermittent movement to the pan in the opposite direction, said frame being substantially U-shaped with its intermediate portion outwardly disposed, said in- ,termediate; portion having. a forwardly dierected arm with whichthe second named link is engaged.\

1 5.7 A fertilizer'distributing apparatus comprising, in combination, ahopper having a i1 -discharge opening, a pan underlying thedischargeopening and upon which the'hopper discharges, said panfincluding aside wall, a strip secured .toand extending, along said sidewalha link, pivotally connected with the 42: hopper and with an end portion of thestrip,

.- [an outwardly disposed frame carried-by the I pa n at the end portion thereof remote from theendportion of the strip with which the -link isengaged, asecond link pivotally confi'rgo 'nected with the outerportion of the frame and 1 the hopper,bot-h of the links providing means to support the pan for vibratory movement, 7 mechanical means coacting withthe frame for successively imparting movement to the iwpanin one direction, and automatic means ,for imparting intermittent movement to the jpan inthe opposite direction, and a lever .fpivotally supported adjac ent to one of the links, said lever when moved in one position no engaging said link tohold thepan in a position torelease the same from vibratory move ment i. 1

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my "signature.

JOHN LA AYE TE vHATCH. 

